The arden is not just a village or a town; it is a cultural community with its own unique character. It combines the qualities of an English rural idyll, the Arts and Crafts movement, and the garden city movement of Ebenezer Howard. It was founded in 1900 as a single tax village based on the Georgist philosophy of Henry George, and is still noted for its music, theater and arts, with most events held at the Arden Gild Hall. The hamlet is surrounded by woodlands that have been preserved as natural areas, and border the Cannock Chase Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty to the north and the Cotswolds AONB to the south.
Arden’s unique environment has attracted many writers, artists and musicians whose work was inspired by this natural and historic setting. The woods abound with wildflowers, birds and animals, and are a peaceful retreat. Volunteers help maintain their natural beauty through the annual woods cleanup, ivy “pulls” and other activities. They are also a source of natural building materials such as the distinctive Triassic white heterolithic sandstone of the Ardens, quarried from the nearby Arden Way, which is a waymarked UK National Trail.
The Arden Gild Hall is available for private parties, wedding receptions and other special events. The pool is owned and operated by the Swim Club, which offers a low cost for membership compared to other community pools in the region. The club also offers a variety of other recreational and social activities for members.